HBA-EDN S.B. 1057 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisS.B. 1057
By: Ellis, Rodney
Higher Education
4/22/2001
Engrossed



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Currently, the TEXAS grant program grants students the opportunity to
enroll in institutions of higher education.  An interim committee report
recommended improvements to help raise awareness of the program among
certain groups.  Senate Bill 1057 implements recommendations from the TEXAS
grant program legislative oversight committee report. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that rulemaking
authority is expressly delegated to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating
Board in SECTION 1 (Section 56.304, Education Code) of this bill. 

ANALYSIS

Senate Bill 1057 amends the Education Code to require the Texas Higher
Education Coordinating Board (coordinating board) to adopt rules to provide
a person who is otherwise eligible to receive a TEXAS grant (grant)
additional time during which the person may receive a grant in the event of
a hardship or other good cause shown that prevents the person from
continuing the person's enrollment at an eligible institution during the
person's initial eligibility period.   

S.B. 1057 requires the coordinating board and the commissioner of education
to develop a plan or set of recommendations to ensure that information on
the grant program and other financial aid information is adequately
publicized to prospective students and financial aid recipients, their
parents, school counselors, student financial aid offices, and other
appropriate entities.  The bill requires the coordinating board and the
commissioner of education to report the results of the study and the plan
or recommendations to the legislature not later than October 1, 2002.  

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act
takes effect September 1, 2001. The Act applies beginning with students who
demonstrate eligibility to receive a grant for the 2001-2002 school year.